Retrospective histopathological classification of 1,108 skin biopsies from patients clinically suspected of having leprosy from Bahia, northeast Brazil.

We report a retrospective histopathological classification carried out under laboratory conditions by the method of Ridley & Jopling of 1,108 skin biopsies from patients clinically suspected of having leprosy from Bahia, Northeast Brazil.

Retrospective histopathological classification of 1,108 skin biopsies from patients clinically suspected of having leprosy from Bahia, northeast Brazil

We report a retrospective histopathological classification carried out under laboratory conditions by the method of Ridley & Jopling of 1,108 skin biopsies from patients clinically suspected of having leprosy from Bahia, Northeast Brazil.

Apresenta-se a classificação histopatológica retrospectiva, segundo Ridley e Jopling de 1.108 biópsias de pele de pacientes clinicamente suspeitos de hanseníase provenientes do Estado da Bahia, Brasil.

Coexistence of an unusual form of scabies and lepromatous leprosy. A case report.

A case of unusual crusted (Norwegian) scabies involving the entire skin of a 26 year old Brazilian patient with lepromatous leprosy is reported. The more prominent histopathological findings were acanthosis, hyperkeratosis and crusting with many mites of Sarcoptes scabiei. In the dermis, numerous foamy histiocytes filled with abundant acid-fast bacilli were seen.

Demonstration of mycobacterial antigens in skin biopsies fron suspected leprosy cases in the absence of bacilli.

Skin-biopsies from fifty-six patients suspected of early leprosy from Bahia State, Brazil, were examined histopathologically. The Fite-Faraco staining failed to demonstrate acid-fast bacilli in this material. The prominent features of the lesions were inflammation of the neurovascular bundles and sometimes inflammation of the skin appendages. The non-specific infiltrate was predominantly composed of histiocytes and lymphocytes. In 41 cases (73.2%) epidermal atrophy was also present. The avidin-biotin peroxidase technique was used with primary antibodies to detect bacillary antigens (anti-BCG serum) and nerve branches (anti-S-100 protein serum). Immunohistochemical detection of bacillary antigens using the anti-BCG serum was positive in 28 cases (50%). A positive staining for S-100 protein was observed in 40 cases (71.4%) in dendritic antigen-presenting cells of the skin. The detection of bacillary antigens, together with the clear demonstration of nerve bundles enhanced our capacity to fulfill morphologic criteria for the diagnosis of early leprosy. Our observations indicate that the use of immunohistochemical methods represent a useful tool for the early diagnosis of leprosy.